1022 RECOED OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



Arthopyrenia and Microthelia, into which the genus Pyrenula Tuck, 

 must be separated. 



2. With respect to the genus of epiphytal lichens Epiphora, 

 established by Nylander, Minks states that E. encaustica is a true 

 lichen, which, however, in consequence of unfavourable vital con- 

 ditions, is unable to attain full development, and does not therefore 

 possess the characters of a true species, still less of a distinct genus. 



3. The new genus Magmopsis was considered by its author Nylan- 

 der as the representative of the peridium-type among the Byssacefe. 

 A careful study has, according to Minks, established the fact that, in 

 the supposed peculiar thallus of Magmopsis, Nylander had under his 

 eyes a mixture of three distinct layers. The altogether lecideine 

 apothecia belong to Catillaria athalUna Hepp., or a nearly allied 

 species. The thallus and the apothecia of this are overgrown by 

 two other lichen layers, still in an early stage of development. The 

 apparent peridium-type arose from the overgrowth of a hypothallus 

 bearing densely crowded gonocysts. 



Application of Pringsheim's Researches on Chlorophyll to the 

 Life of the Lichen.* — Mr. G. Murray, referring to the suggestion 

 of Dr. Vines in regard to Pringsheim's researches,! that by the aid 

 of an artificial chlorophyll screen the protoplasm of fungi might be 

 excited to the decomposition of carbonic acid, and to the formation of 

 starch from carbonic acid and water, contends that this experiment is 

 proceeding naturally in Lichens. In these organisms we have the 

 fungal tissues in the body of the thallus, and the chlorophyll screen 

 in the gonidial layer; that is, the chlorophyll is in one system of 

 cells, and the protoplasm, apparently affected by it, in another, which 

 is in contact. Light traversing the chlorophyll-containing gonidial 

 layer excites in the fungal tissues the decomposition of carbonic acid. 

 In evidence he adduces the plentiful occurrence of starch, or rather 

 lichenin — a substance of the same chemical composition as starch 

 (CgHjoOg) and formed from it by the action of the free acids of the 

 plant. 



This process, he considers, tends to explain the nature of the con- 

 sortism of the fungal and algal elements in the autonomous Lichen, 

 and thus to support tlie well-known views of Schwendener. 



Algae. 



Agardh's 'Morphologia Floridearum.' — Professor Agardh re- 

 publishes this work (in Latin, with 301 pp.) uniform with and forming 

 vol. iii. part 2 of his ' Species, Genera et Ordines Algarum,' in 8vo. 

 Unfortunately the reader is referred to the 4to edition for the plates 

 which illustrate the subject, thej not having been reproduced with 

 the text. 



Oxyglossum, a new Genus of Laminariace8B.| — Under this 

 name Professor J. L. Areschoug proposes to establish a new genus 



* ' Joura. Linn. Soc. Lond.' (Bot.), xviii. (1880) pp. 147-8. 



t See this Journal, ante, pp. 117 and 480. 



% ' Bot. Notiscr,' 1880, pp. 96-98. See ' Bot. Centralbl.,' i. (1880) p. 1154. 



